ercgwilliams-06 1

Classification Notes

Learning Objective• I can classify objects in

appropriate groups and explain the logic behind my choices.

Buttons!1. Your table will be given a collection

of buttons to classify. 2. On lined/scratch paper, create a

Tree Map to classify your categories. Include labels describing the categories you created for your buttons.

3. Once finished, repeat Step 2 with totally different categories. Make at least 3 different Tree Maps.

Taxonomy• In the 1700s, Carolus Linnaeus

developed modern taxonomy

• Taxonomy: the science of classifying, describing, and naming organisms.

• The system used today is still based on Linnaeus’ work

Why do scientists classify organisms?

• To define the characteristics of species

• To determine when characteristics evolved

• To understand relationships between species

DoKings PlayChessOnFunnyGreen Square

sercgwilliams-06 6

DomainKingdom

PhylumClass

OrderFamily

GenusSpecies

Classification• As you go down the

levels, the number of organisms in the taxa gets smaller

Classification: Cat Domain

KingdomPhylum

ClassOrder

FamilyGenus

Species

Eukarya Animalia

ChordataMammalia

CarnivoraFelidae

Feliscatus

• Single Celled• Prokaryotes (cell lacks a

nucleus)• Extreme conditions• Ancient DNA

Domain Archaea

Domain Bacteria• Single celled• Prokaryotes (cells lack a

nucleus) • Can live in your body, soil or

water

• Single or multicellular• Eukaryotes (have a nucleus

and membrane bound organelles)

• Four Kingdoms:

Domain Eukarya

1. Animalia2. Plantae3. Fungi4. Protista

Binomial nomenclature: a system of naming species of living things by giving them each a name made up of two parts

Scientific Name

•Name is always in Latin form• Examples: Canus lupus, Pan troglodytes, Rosa centifolia

Standardizing a scientific name prevents confusion across different

languages.

The scientific name is always theorganism’s genus and species.

• The Genus is Capitalized• The species is not• Written in italics

ExamplesHomo sapiens (human)

Felis catus (domestic cat)Canis familaris (domestic

dog)

14

Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Mammalia

Subclass: Theria Infraclass: Eutheria

Order: Primates Suborder: Anthropoidea

Superfamily: Hominoidea

Family: Hominidae Genus: Homo Species: sapiens

Classification on Modern Humans